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Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 6 / 天天都在吃毒（第三部）: 基因改造篇 6
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Author(s)
Previous Chapters of the “GMO” Series:
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 1
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 2
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 3
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 4
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 5
The Label War — The battle between facts & lies.
The “Right-to-Know” is Taken Away
If the label tells you there is poison in a food product, yet you still want to eat it, then that is your choice.
But if there is toxin in a food product, but the manufacturer would not let you know, then you are consuming it unknowingly — This is taking away the “right-to-know” from the consumers.
Hiding the Facts from Consumers
Lied, bribed, threatened, controlled, accused, modified test reports, manipulated politic & laws…
Several employees & attorney from Monsanto were later working in some governmental sectors, such as the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration), making regulations & decisions in favor of Monsanto.
Monsanto & several other biotech/pesticides corporations had spent about 46 millions U.S. dollars opposing the law making of “GMO labeling” — Why were they spending so much money trying to hide the facts from the consumers?
Anti-GMO Actions around the World
Campaigns against GMO have been rising up all around the world (especially in the U.S. & Europe). Globally there are at least 50 countries banning on the “import & planting of GM food”.
United States
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) & other NGOs initiated “Millions against Monsanto” Campaign.
In April of 2013, Senator Barbara Boxer & Congressman Pete DeFazio introduced the “Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know” Act. Also, the court of Minnesota ruled that organic farmers can sue GMO farmers whose pesticides or GM crops trespass and contaminate their fields.
Whole Food (a large natural food supermarket chain) announced: By 2018 “labeling of genetically engineered foods” would be required for products sold in their store that were “non-organic” or “not verified by the Non-GMO Project”.
Europe
At least 8 countries ban the cultivation of GM crops: Austria, French, Germany, Hungary, Luxemburg, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland.
Some towns & cities require the foods served at hospitals& schools to contain no GM ingredients; Hypermarkets such as Carrefour& Tesco in many countries publicly announced that they would not sell GM food products.
Japan
In April of 1998, more than 2 millions people signed against GM food products, and asked the government to make labeling law. Therefore in April of 2001, the government implemented the GM food labeling law, food contained more than 5% of GM ingredients must be labeled as “GM Food Product”.
NGOs had conducted educational & advocacy activities among the public, they asked the schools lunch project to reject GM foods, and they opposed the national study & produce of GM crops. Volunteers of NGOs collected samples at roads& farms, when discovered GM crop growing there, they would announced it publicly by marking it on the map.
Extended Resources
Edited version, based on the articles in my blog: “U-Turn of Creation“
To be continued……
“基因改造篇”的前几章：
- 天天都在吃毒 (第三部) : 基因改造篇 1
- 天天都在吃毒 (第三部) : 基因改造篇 2
- 天天都在吃毒 (第三部) : 基因改造篇 3
- 天天都在吃毒 (第三部) : 基因改造篇 4
- 天天都在吃毒 (第三部) : 基因改造篇 5
标签的战争 — 真相与虚谎之间的大决斗。
“知情权”被剥夺
若标签上告诉你: 这个食品有毒，但你还是要吃，那是你的选择。
但若食品有毒，制造商却不让你知道，你就是在不知情之下吃进肚子了 — 这就是: 消费者的 “知情权” 被剥夺。
千方百计隐瞒消费者
说谎，贿赂，威胁，掌控，诬告，窜改检验报告，操弄政治和法律…
孟山都的几位高层职员和律师渗透进美国 FDA（食品及药物管理局）等等政府单位就职，设立对 Monsanto 有好处的条规和决定。
孟山都和其他几家生物科技/农药企业，花了约美金 4 千 6 百万来阻止 “食品标签上标示基因改造” 的条规的设立 — 他们为何要花这么多钱来隐瞒消费者？
全世界抵制基改食品的行动
反基改食品的运动正如火如荼的在全世界展开（特别是欧美）。全球至少有 50 个国家禁止 “进口和种植基改食物”。
美国
OCA（美国有机消费者协会）与其他民间团体一起发动 “百万人反孟山都运动”。
法律方面，2013 年 4 月，美国参议员 Barbara Boxer 和国会议员 Pete DeFazio 提出支持 “对基改食物的知情权” 的法令。此外，明尼苏打州法庭下令: 若 “有机农民” 的农田被 “基改农民” 的农药或基改农作物越界和污染，前者有权控告后者。
大型天然食品连锁店 Whole Food 在 2018 年之前，将规定店里所有 “非有机” 或 “未被验证无基改成份” 的食品，标签上必须清楚标示: “含GMO”。
欧洲
至少 8 个国家禁止种植基改作物: 奥地利、法国、德国、匈牙利、卢森堡、希腊、保加利亚、波兰。
某些乡镇规定医院与学校所供应的食物不得含基改成份；许多国家的大卖场，例如家乐福、特易购，都纷纷公开表示不卖基改食品。
日本
1998 年 4 月，超过 2 百万人民签名反基改食品，并要求政府建立标示制度；因此政府於 2001 年 4 月推动基改食品标示法，凡食品使用 5% 以上基改原料，必须标示為 “基改食品”。
民间团体对民眾展开宣导活动，呼吁学校供营养午餐时拒绝採用基改食品，并反对国内研发及生產基改农作物。民间团体义工在道路及田园採样抽验，若发现有基改农作物长出来，就标示在地图来公告。
延伸资讯
修订版，取材自我部落格 “万物的U转” 里的文章
待续……
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Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 5 / 天天都在吃毒 (第三部) : 基因改造篇 5
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Author(s)
Previous Chapters of the “GMO” Series:
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 1
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 2
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 3
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 4
5)
Contamination of Gene
The contamination caused by the genetically modified crops is the nightmare for the farmers, and also the calamity for the global food system.
The pollen of GM crops contaminate the genes of the organic or conventional crops nearby through agents such as wind, rain, birds, bees & insects. Even in the rural area of Mexico, the types of corn that are considered as national treasure in terms of varieties & purity, also contaminated by the GM corn in America.
“Patent” of GM Seeds
In the past, farmers usually would save up a batch of seeds for next season’s planting.
But Monsanto’s “Seed Patent” banned the farmers from saving their GM seeds, forced the farmers to always have to buy a new batch of seeds.
The pollen of Monsanto’s GM crops flew to others’ field, contaminated others’ pure seeds, but they turned around and accuse others of infringing upon the patent of their GM seed! Monsanto hired a group of “Gene Police”, took sample from others’ field without permission, then sent letter to the farmers whom crops were contaminated, accused them of infringing upon Monsanto’s seed patent, and demanded the farmers to pay compensation.
“Terminator” Seed
If Seed Patent can no longer effectively stop the farmers from saving the seeds, Monsanto might be using the next weapon — the “Terminator” genetically modified seed.
“Terminator” GM seed is also called as the “Sterile Seed“, it will create toxin to kill its own embryo — its plant can only bear fruits once, but its new seeds cannot be planted again. Thus every time after harvest, the farmers must buy a new batch of seeds. The bigger crisis is: If this “Terminator” GM seed contaminated other seeds, will it cause other seeds to be “sterile” too ?
Extended Resources
Edited version, based on the articles in my blog: “U-Turn of Creation“
To be continued……
“基因改造篇”的前几章：
5)
基因的污染
基因改造农作物造成的污染，是农民的恶梦，也是全球粮食的祸患。
基改农作物的花粉，透过风、雨、鸟、蜂和虫等等传粉媒介，污染了附近的有机或普通农作物的基因。就连墨西哥乡下，无论在多样性和纯度方面都被视为国际珍宝的玉米品种，也受到美国基改玉米的污染。
基改种子“专利权”
以前，农民们通常会保留一部份种子给下一季种植。但是孟山都的“种子专利权”禁止农民保留其基改种子，迫使农民每次都必须跟他们购买新一批种子
孟山都的基改农作物的花粉飞到别人田地，污染了人家的纯净种子，但孟山都却反咬人一口、控告别人侵犯其基改种子的“专利权”！孟山都聘请了一批“基因警察”，私自到人家田地搜取植物样本，然后发信给农作物“遭污染”的农民，控告农民侵犯专利权，要求他们支付赔偿金。
“终结者”种子
如果“种子专利权”不再能阻止农民保留种子，孟山都很可能会采用下一个控制武器 –“终结者”基改种子（Terminator seed）。
“终结者”基改种子，也称为“不育”基改种子，会制造毒素将自己的胚芽杀死 — 只能结一次果子，但新种子却不能再用来种植。如此，农民每一次收割后，就非得购买新一批种子不可。更大的危机是: 若这些“终结者”基改种子污染了别人的普通种子，会不会导致别的种子也“不育”？
延伸资讯
修订版，取材自我部落格 “万物的U转” 里的文章
待续……
Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 4 / 天天都在吃毒 (第三部) : 基因改造 4
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Author(s)
Previous Chapters of the “GMO” Series:
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 1
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 2
- Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 3
4)
Farmers in Debt & Committed Suicide
1999, Monsanto bought Mahyco, the largest seed company in India; 2 years later, India government approved Monsanto’s genetically modified “BT Cotton” to come into the market. Even if the farmers wanted to buy the conventional cotton seeds, it’s not available in the market — because Monsanto had controlled almost all the cotton seed markets in India. Farmers were forced to pay price 4 times higher than the conventional seeds to buy BT Cotton seeds, and they had to borrow usury in order to afford it.
Monsanto’s advertisement claimed that BT Cotton can reduce 7 times of the pesticides use, and increase 3 times of the cotton harvest, but actually it was completely failed — BT Cotton still needed to be sprayed pesticides in order to kill Bollworms. 2006, BT Cotton was attacked by a rare infection & damage by the Rhizoctonia, the harvest were all ruined. India agronomists said there might be bad interaction happening between cotton & BT gene, thus weakened the plants’ immunity toward Rhizoctonia.
Because of poor harvest of BT Cotton, many farmers committed suicide because of debt; the area of Vidarbha was having 3 farmers suicidal cases each day on the average. Furthermore, lots of livestock fell sick & died because of grazing on the BT Cotton.
The World According to Monsanto (9 of 11)
Extended Resources
- The World According to Monsanto (1 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (2 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (3 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (4 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (5 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (6 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (7 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (8 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (9 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (10 of 11)
- The World According to Monsanto (11 of 11)
Edited version, based on the articles in my blog: “U-Turn of Creation“
To be continued……
“基因改造篇”的前几章：
4)
农夫负债和自杀
1999 年，孟山都收购了印度最大的种子公司 Mahyco；2 年后，印度政府批准孟山都的基因改造”BT 棉花”上市。就算农夫想买传统的棉花种子，市场上也买不到 — 因为孟山都控制了几乎整个印度的棉花种子市场。农夫被迫以高于传统种子 4 倍的价格购买 BT 棉花种子，往往必须借高利贷才买得起。
孟山都的广告说 BT 棉花可以减少 7 倍农药用量、提高 3 倍棉花产量，但实际上却彻底失败 — BT 棉花还是得喷农药才能消灭棉铃虫。2006年， BT 棉花受到前所未有的丝核菌感染和破坏，收成全毁。农学家说棉花和 BT 基因之间可能发生了一些不好的交互作用，以致植株对丝核菌的抵抗力变弱。
因为BT棉收成不好，农夫纷纷因债务而自杀； Vidarbha 地区平均每天发生 3 件农民自杀事件。此外，也有大批牲畜因误食 BT 棉花而生病死亡。
孟山都的基因改造世界 The World According to Monsanto (11之9)
延伸资讯
修订版，取材自我部落格 “万物的U转” 里的文章
待续……
(Petition) Tell Bayer: Stop Making Bee-Killing Neonic Pesticides! / （请愿书）告诉拜耳公司 : 停止制造“杀蜜蜂”的氖农药！
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Neurotoxic pesticides known as “neonics” are not only wiping out the world’s bees, but also killing off butterflies, fish, and birds… threatening to wipe out “the heart of a functioning ecosystem”.
A new study says Neonics, the neurotoxic pesticides behind Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) of the bees population, can be 5,000 to 10,000 times more toxic to bees than DDT!
We cannot stand by as these pesticides threaten to destroy the natural ecosystem.
1) Please sign the petition organized by “Story of Stuff”:
Tell Bayer: Stop Making Bee-Killing Neonic Pesticides!
2) Exercising your consumer power by purchasing “Organic Produce” (instead of the conventional produce that are using a lot of pesticides).
______________________________________________________________________________
神经毒性农药 “Neonics”，不只在消灭全球的蜜蜂，也正在杀死蝴蝶、鱼和鸟类… 可能使“主要的生态系统”消失。
一个新研究表示: 导致大量蜜蜂消失的神经毒性农药 “Neonics”，其毒性比 DDT 多 5,000-10,000 倍！
我们不能眼睁睁的看着这些农药消灭整个生态系统。
1) 请签署 “Story of Stuff” 推动的请愿书:
告诉拜耳公司 : 停止制造“杀蜜蜂”的氖农药！
2) 行使你的消费者力量，选购 “有机农产品”（而不是那些施用大量农药的普通农产品）。
Eating Poison Everyday (Part 3) : GMO 3 / 天天都在吃毒 (第三部) : 基因改造 3
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Author(s)
Previous Chapters of the “GMO” Series:
3)
In the beginning, there are great varieties of crops. However, the original & pure seeds are becoming extinct. (In the United States, 97% of the varieties of vegetables grown at the beginning of the 20th century are now extinct).
Today, large fields are planted with only one variety of crop (which is usually one of those popular commercial crops, such as corn & soybean). Mono crop planting has led to the increase of pests & diseases.
Weeds & Pests Develop “Resistance”
When there are more pests & diseases, farmers are forced to use more pesticides, but when more pesticides are being used, weeds/pests/diseases developed resistance, thus more pesticides needed to be sprayed…
This is a “business opportunity” for pesticides manufacturers, such as Monsanto.
Monsanto’s RoundUp has triggered more than 40 types of plants diseases. The more RoundUp is being used, the more plants diseases increase. Weeds &bugs have also developed resistance, and become the “super weeds” & “super bugs”.
GMO Company Controls Global Seeds
Whoever controls the seeds controls the food.
Mono crops, pesticides, GM seeds, monopolization……they are all linked together. From 1995 to 2005, pesticides & bio-engineering corporation Monsanto bought 50 over seeds companies around the world, so that they can use their GM seeds to replace all the other seeds.
Currently, Corn, Soybean, Rape (Canola), Cotton & Beetroot are the 5 main types of mono & GM crops in the United States.
Food Inc. – Extraction
Extended Resources
Edited version, based on the articles in my blog: “U-Turn of Creation“
To be continued……
“基因改造篇”的前几章：
3)
起初，地球上农作物是多元化的，但是，原始和纯净的种子正在绝迹（美国 20 世纪初期种植的蔬菜，有 97% 的品种现在已经绝迹）。今天，美国很多大农田只种植“单一”农作物（通常是那种畅销的商业农作物，像玉米和黄豆），但这种单一农作物的耕种法使害虫与疾病增多。
杂草和害虫产生“抗药性”
当害虫和疾病增加时，农夫被逼使用更多农药，而当更多农药被使用时，野草/害虫/疾病继续产生抗体，结果需喷洒更多农药。对孟山都这些农药公司来说，“抗药性”就是“商机”。
孟山都的 RoundUp 灭草剂引发超过 40 种植物疾病。RoundUp 用得越多，植物疾病越飙升。杂草和害虫也产生抗药性，变成杀不死的“超级杂草”和“超级害虫”。
基改公司控制全球种子
谁掌控种子，谁就可以掌控粮食。
单一农作物、农药、基因改造种子、垄断…全都有关联。从 1995 到 2005 年，孟山都农药/生技公司在全世界收购了 50 多家种子公司，好让孟山都的“基因改造种子”可以取代其他所有种子和垄断市场。
目前，玉米、黄豆、甜菜根、棉花、油菜 (Canola) 是美国 5 大种“单一”和“基改”农作物。
Food Inc. – 片段
延伸资讯
修订版，取材自我部落格 “万物的U转” 里的文章
待续……
(Petition) Tell Nestle: Stop Privatizing Our Water Resources / (请愿书) 告诉雀巢公司: 别将我们的水资源占为己有
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Please sign the following petition organized by “Story of Stuff”:
Tell Nestlé that we have a right to water. Stop locking up our resources!
The residents in Mecosta County, Michigan embarked a lawsuit with Nestle that lasted years – That was not the first time Nestle was being sued, as of 2008, Nestle was being sued in 5 states in the US.
Local residents sued Nestle for massive pumping of their local water for huge profit, which damaged the aquifer, lakes, rivers, ecosystem & agriculture…
Even though back then the judge had ordered Nestle to stop pumping water, Nestle manipulated the law and continue to forcefully pumping the water…
美国密西根州 Mecosta County 的居民与Nestle公司爆发了一场长达数年的官司 — 这并不是 Nestle 第一次被告，至 2008 年为止，Nestle 已被美国 5 州控告。
当地居民指控 Nestle 大量抽取当地水源牟暴利，破坏地下水层、湖河、生态与农业…
当时法官已判决并下令 Nestle 停止抽水，但是 Nestle 操弄法律，继续以强硬的手段来抽水…
Bottled Life – The Truth about Nestlé’s Business with Water
FLOW – Water Corporations Steal Our Water
Tapped – Bottled Water Corporations Take Our Water Then Sell It Back to Us
The Story of Bottled Water / 瓶裝水的故事
For more related info, please read:
Companies proclaim water the next oil in a rush to turn resources into profit
Lin 慧治
